Construction output estimates are a short term indicator of construction output by private sector and public corporations within the UK. The estimates are produced and published at current prices (including inflationary price effects) and at constant prices (with inflationary effects removed) both seasonally and non-seasonally adjusted. Construction output is used in the compilation of the UK National Accounts’ production measure of Gross Domestic Product.

Users are reminded that the figures contained in this release are estimates and produced on a non-seasonally adjusted basis.

The total volume of construction output in February 2013 was 7.0% lower than in February 2012 (based on 2005 constant prices).

Comparing the three months from December 2012 to February 2013 with the same three months one year earlier, the volume of construction output decreased by 8.9%. New work was lower by 10.7% with large falls in public other new work and private-commercial other new work, which reported decreases of 23.7% and 9.8% respectively. Other new work excludes the housing and infrastructure sectors but includes construction such as factories, warehouses, schools and offices etc. There was also a 5.6% decrease in repair and maintenance, mainly due to a 8.3% fall in the repair and maintenance of housing.

Comparing February 2013 with January 2013 the total volume of construction output increased by 5.5%. There were increases in output for nearly all sectors, with the exception of private commercial other new work which showed a fall of 0.5%.

These estimates for the construction industry are the second of the main components for the output measure of GDP to be published for February 2013, the second month of quarter one 2013. Further information on the various components of GDP is contained within the Economic background section of this bulletin.

The ‘Definitions and explanations’ section in the background notes of this bulletin includes additional information on items contained in this release.

Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.1.0.